How Drake is affecting your mood

Whether you're listening to Grimmy's breakfast show before lectures or throwing shapes on a Wednesday night at Pryzm, it's seldom we're not playing a tune or two - but how does what we're listening to affect how we feel?

A 2013 study in the Journal of Positive Psychology found that listening to upbeat music could improve someone's happiness in just 2 weeks, and in a study which involved more than 2,400 people in the United Kingdom and Finland, researchers at Durham University and the University of Jyväskylä found that even listening to sad songs had a positive effect of some people's moods, bringing pleasure and comfort.

“The results help us to pinpoint the ways people regulate their mood with the help of music, as well as how music rehabilitation and music therapy might tap into these processes of comfort, relief, and enjoyment,” said lead author, Tuomas Eerola, Ph.D., the professor at Durham University who is giving us an excuse to boogie.

Studies even show that music therapy is a valid treatment to reduce anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, can boost your mood and self-esteem and, apparently as a result, your quality of life. So turn up Beyoncé and say goodbye to Freshers' flu, student debt and bad breakups because a better mood is linked to better physical health, higher income and greater relationship satisfaction, notes study author Yuna Fergus.

In an effort to lift your spirits this exam season, I'm Not Fine have put together a few mood-boosting playlists over on our Spotify. There's one for whatever you're feeling, whether you need to shake the stress with some foot tapping, calm anxiousness with some soft instrumentals, or forget about that deadline that's fast approaching.

STRESS LESS is a playlist for when it feels like things are squashing you. Stick it on when you're stressing in the library, anxious about a deadline, or feeling a bit homesick at Clayhill. Mellow sounds from Bon Iver and Drake are sure to help you chill the fuck out.

SHAKE IT OFF with this upbeat playlist worthy of all your best dance moves. Do a T-Swizzle and when all your shit is B-A-N-A-N-A-S, sip on some coke and rum, give me that toot toot and let R. Kelly give you that beep beep.

PRYZM CHEESE ROOM ANTHEMS is what it says on the tin - full of classic beats and ballads that will take you through the eras and prep you for the biggest Wednesday night out in Kingston. Even cheesier than chips from Shawarma Grill, S Club and Shaggy make this the perfect pre-drink playlist.

If you feel like any of the playlists are lacking a vital tune, DJ I'm Not Fine would be happy to take your requests. Tweet us them at @imnotfineku.

#anxious #lonely #feelingdown #selfconscious #stressed